Ted & Tammy Dardzinski
Ted and Tammy bring unmatched experience, deep knowledge, and undeniable passion to the table. The TEDD Method for Longevity ranks us among the best in the world at training older adults. The results speak for themselves. Their dedicated clients perform at a fitness age that is years and even decades younger than their biological age!
Learn more below.
Tammy Dardzinski
Tammy, who grew up on the East Coast without an athletic background and did not play sports in school, launched her professional athletic career at 30, finding her true potential in San Diego in the early 1990s.
Tammy became an enthusiastic runner and trained alongside one of the top female triathletes in the world. She would go to UCSD two days a week to do track workouts with professional athletes. She was part of the first-ever co-ed team that won the inaugural Camp Pendleton Mud Run. Shortly after she started running, Tammy got her first road bike. She quickly proved to be a natural on two wheels, which made it an easy transition to mountain biking, where she discovered her true passion. She began training and racing with a competitive group of male cyclists.
When Ted joined the Egoscue Clinic in Del Mar, Tammy was a client seeking restorative exercise and functional movement training after suffering a serious back injury with three herniated lumbar discs. Doctors recommended an epidural for pain relief and suggested spinal fusion, informing her that she would likely never run again and her biking would be restricted to paved roads.
Tammy diligently adhered to her restorative program, and as a result, she returned to running, mountain biking, and more! She began participating in triathlons and adventure races and trained at the renowned Egoscue obstacle course alongside college and professional football players, some of whom would become future Hall of Fame athletes.
As Tammy excelled in athletics, she returned to school to pursue a degree in Exercise Science. While studying, she and Ted became business partners and co-founded their first company, Function First. This was one of the first functional training centers in the country. At Function First, Tammy began personal training and also led an outdoor adventure workout group, where she worked out alongside Navy SEALs and Marine Recon athletes.
When Ted and Tammy founded Project Walk and entered the spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery field, Tammy quickly immersed herself in developing techniques for treating new SCIs. Today, those techniques are still being utilized and taught around the world.
Despite building and expanding her business, Tammy remained dedicated to her passion for mountain biking. In her mid-50s, she earned a spot on the podium at the USA Mountain Bike Nationals in Mammoth for two consecutive years and won her age group at the Mammoth Kamikaze Games. Now, at 60 years old, she continues to pursue her love of the sport!
Tammy, over 60, is in the best shape of her life and showcases the effectiveness of the TEDD Longevity Program. Few trainers match her experience or ability to transform clients using biomechanical functional training, the foundation of The TEDD Method for longevity and lifestyle performance.
Tammy is an extraordinary role model and coach.
Ted Dardzinski
Ted has dedicated his entire life to training. He began swimming at age five and has continued to train consistently ever since. Now a veteran athlete over 60, Ted sees himself as an old-school cross trainer without a specific sport focus. He recognizes the importance of strength and conditioning for older athletes and founded his gym to address this need.
In 1992, he was hired at the Egoscue Clinic in Del Mar, starting as an apprentice. Over five years, he advanced to become a Master Functional Exercise Specialist. He served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Egoscue Adult Fitness Program and as an assistant coach for college and professional athletes. This experience gave him the foundational knowledge to support him throughout his career. During this time, he was introduced to the emerging field of longevity training. Most of the clients he worked with were over 40 years old and suffered from chronic dysfunctions that led to pain and premature aging.
After five years of study and practical experience, Tammy and Ted established their business, Function First Inc. Operating out of a 5,000-square-foot warehouse, they continued to work with aging athletic clients, focusing on training for longevity.
Next Adventure -- Project Walk SCI Recovery Center
Ted is an internationally recognized Exercise Specialist in neurological and physiological training, known for pioneering activity-based recovery for spinal cord injuries. His methodology, Active Nervous System Recruitment (ANSR), or The TEDD Method, has been the subject of numerous research studies published in respected journals. Ted is a sought-after speaker at global neurological conferences and has been featured in major media outlets, including the LA Times, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, as well as programs like The Today Show, Anderson Cooper, and The Doctors.
Ted has trained top athletes of his generation and individuals with severe spinal cord injuries—he has given them hope and transformed their lives.
As Ted focused on growing his business for spinal cord injury clients, he noticed his hip mobility declining. Soon, he experienced constant muscle aches and became increasingly stiff. Ted transitioned from being a competitive athlete to needing walking sticks. His mobility worsened, making it difficult to cross the street without drawing attention for moving slowly. Eventually, he required an elevated toilet seat, and Tammy had to help him dress daily. Despite his depression, Ted remained determined to regain his mobility.
His immobility led to a double hip replacement and the discovery of a blood disease, which ultimately caused his physical deterioration. Determined more than ever, he focused on rehabilitating himself, wondering if he could regain his former abilities. He worked hard, and just two months after his second hip replacement surgery, he entered the cross-country race at the Kamikaze Games in Mammoth. A year later, he became the overall winner of a mountain bike race in San Diego.
When Ted and Tammy sold their company and retired, it operated out of a 20,000-square-foot facility and employed 50 people, most of whom were trainers. Today, training centers around the world utilize methods based on Ted's philosophy and neurological training systems.
After retiring, Ted focused on his recovery. Despite having both hips replaced, he still suffered from constant knee pain and had issues with his ankles and feet, making each step painful. Some days, walking was nearly impossible. All his joints, including his shoulders, were affected. Unable to accept this reality, he dedicated his retirement to studying and finding ways to improve. He wondered if he could become stronger and more functional at 65 than he was at 55.
Ted has over 40 years of unparalleled training experience. His innovative approach to body and anti-aging training transforms clients of all ages daily.